New York Giants: The Value Of Dwayne Harris
When the Giants inked a contract with Dwayne Harris early in free agency, it almost went unnoticed. Sure he is just a return specialist, but the value of having a return specialist like Harris cannot be overstated.
Harris comes from the enemy, the Dallas Cowboys. The Cowboys drafted Harris in the sixth round of the 2011 NFL Draft out of East Carolina. Harris quickly showed the Cowboys that he was more than worth their sixth round investment.
Harris averages 26.5 yards per kick off return and 11.1 yards per punt return. He has scored touchdowns on two kick returns. On 77 kickoff returns Harris has had returns of over 20 yards 62 times. He has 5 kickoff returns of over 40 yards.
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Special teams is one of the most forgotten components of a football game but it is crucially important. Having a reliable punt returner that can field the ball, even if he doesn’t advance the ball like Devin Hester is important. Those yards that a good punt returner like Harris saves you, can be the difference between wins and losses.
On 87 punt returns, Harris has had 14 returns over 20 yards. He has had two punt returns over 40 yards. Harris is not just the reliable return man, he is a weapon. Most punts are not exciting plays, but Harris has a chance to do damage on each of those monotonous plays.
The biggest impact Harris has for the Giants is saving the legs of Odell Beckham Jr., a player the Giants cannot risk injury to on special teams. Beckham Jr. is a good return man, and special teams are important, but his value comes from being healthy on the offense.
This was a smart move by the Giants that deserves more fan attention. Harris may not be the most prolific receiver in the world, but he surely is a return specialist that can change games. A team that has been burned by the bad luck of injuries cannot risk Beckham Jr. getting hurt on special teams. Jerry Reese and company found an alternative that will work wonders for the Giants in Harris.